Described here are systems and methods for separating magnetic resonance signals that are changing over a scan duration (i.e., dynamic signals) from magnetic resonance signals that are static over the same duration. As such, the systems and methods described in the present disclosure can be used to remove artifacts associated with dynamic signals from images of static structures, or to better image the dynamic signal (e.g., pulsatile blood flow or respiratory motion).

Described here are systems and methods for separating magnetic resonance signals that are changing over a scan duration (i.e., dynamic signals) from magnetic resonance signals that are static over the same duration. As such, the systems and methods described in the present disclosure can be used to remove artifacts associated with dynamic signals from images of static structures, or to better image the dynamic signal (e.g., pulsatile blood flow or respiratory motion).

A magnetic field concentrating or guiding device can include one or more coils, and one or more foil, tape and/or bulk superconductor structures disposed in one or more predetermined positions with relation to the coils. The one or more superconductor structures can form one or more magnetic field carrying regions. During operation, current passing through the one or more coils can generate one or more magnetic fields that are compressed or guided in the magnetic field carrying regions.

A magnetic field concentrating or guiding device can include one or more coils, and one or more foil, tape and/or bulk superconductor structures disposed in one or more predetermined positions with relation to the coils. The one or more superconductor structures can form one or more magnetic field carrying regions. During operation, current passing through the one or more coils can generate one or more magnetic fields that are compressed or guided in the magnetic field carrying regions.

An MRI system (100) is proposed (for generating one or more images of a body-part of a patient under analysis); the MRI system (100) comprises an injector head assembly (155), for injecting at least one medical fluid into the patient, having a clock unit (340) for providing a clock signal with a clock frequency. The MRI system (100) comprises means (420-425; 445-460) for adjusting the clock frequency in response to a manual command and/or to a detection of a degradation of the images. An injector system (155,165) for use in this MRI system (100) is also proposed. Moreover, a corresponding method (500) for managing the injector head assembly (155) is proposed. A computer program (400) for implementing the method (500) and a corresponding computer program product are also proposed.

An MRI system (100) is proposed (for generating one or more images of a body-part of a patient under analysis); the MRI system (100) comprises an injector head assembly (155), for injecting at least one medical fluid into the patient, having a clock unit (340) for providing a clock signal with a clock frequency. The MRI system (100) comprises means (420-425; 445-460) for adjusting the clock frequency in response to a manual command and/or to a detection of a degradation of the images. An injector system (155,165) for use in this MRI system (100) is also proposed. Moreover, a corresponding method (500) for managing the injector head assembly (155) is proposed. A computer program (400) for implementing the method (500) and a corresponding computer program product are also proposed.

Systems and methods are provided for managing and reducing the severity or impact of a collision involving an apparatus secured to a table associated with a medical imaging and/or therapeutic gantry. Example systems are provided in which an apparatus is secured to the table such that a distal region of the apparatus extends beyond a longitudinal end of the table. A pivot joint associated with the apparatus is provided such that when a collision between the distal region of the apparatus and an object occurs due to motion of the table, the resulting force causes the apparatus to rotate relative to the pivot joint, thus passively accommodating the applied force and preventing, or reducing the likelihood of, mechanical buckling of the apparatus in the presence of the force. In some example embodiments, the apparatus is configured to rotate and/or translate as a result of the force applied during the collision.

Systems and methods are provided for managing and reducing the severity or impact of a collision involving an apparatus secured to a table associated with a medical imaging and/or therapeutic gantry. Example systems are provided in which an apparatus is secured to the table such that a distal region of the apparatus extends beyond a longitudinal end of the table. A pivot joint associated with the apparatus is provided such that when a collision between the distal region of the apparatus and an object occurs due to motion of the table, the resulting force causes the apparatus to rotate relative to the pivot joint, thus passively accommodating the applied force and preventing, or reducing the likelihood of, mechanical buckling of the apparatus in the presence of the force. In some example embodiments, the apparatus is configured to rotate and/or translate as a result of the force applied during the collision.

Provided are methods for estimating a Reserve Strength Ratio in a segment of a blood vessel or a lymphatic vessel. In some embodiments, the methods include providing a multiphase Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine (DICOM) stack of computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance (MR) images of a blood vessel or a lymphatic vessel to software, wherein the stack of DICOM images is organized by phase; providing the output from the software to a Model Segmentation procedure in which the first phase of the DICOM stack (1st phase) is segmented to create the Geometric Model and finite element mesh of the 1st phase and a map of Local Thickness Measure; uploading a mesh created for the first phase onto the DICOM image volume; mapping each voxel position of the mesh for the first phase to all the subsequent meshes using an optical flow (OF) algorithm; creating deformed meshes at all phases from the maps of displaced nodes; estimating local curvature at each node location for all the phases using a finite difference method; evaluating the local deformation at each phase from the meshes corresponding to all the phases using an element approach; calculating local thickness at each node for all the phases using the deformation calculation at each phase and the thickness measured at the first phase and using the assumption of incompressibility for the aortic wall; and calculating the local principal stresses for each element from an extension of Laplace's equation applied to the local principal directions of curvatures, whereby the Reserve Strength Ratio in a segment of a blood vessel or a lymphatic vessel is estimated. Also provided are methods for predicting an increased risk of rupture of a blood vessel or a lymphatic vessel, methods for identifying subjects as being at risk for rupture of a blood vessel or a lymphatic vessel, and computer program products with computer executable instructions embodied in computer readable medium for performing the methods disclosed herein.

A delta-relaxation magnetic resonance imaging (DREMR) system is provided. The system includes a main field magnet and field shifting coils. A main magnetic field with a strength B0 can be generated using the main filed magnet and the strength B0 of the main magnetic field can be varied through the use of the field-shifting coils. The DREMR system can be used to perform signal acquisition based on a pulse sequence for acquiring at least one of T2*-weighted signals imaging; MR spectroscopy signals; saturation imaging signals and MR signals for fingerprinting. The MR signal acquisition can be augmented by varying the strength B0 of the main magnetic field for at least a portion of the pulse sequence used to acquire the MR signal.